SFBB03: Suggestion Box – Artists

[sfbbmod]

Round 3 is scheduled to open for sign-ups on September 1, but before we go live for this round I wanted to ask for suggestions regarding an issue that has plagued us in both of the previous rounds, namely The Case of the Disappearing Artists.

In the past, Artist Sign-ups have opened the same day as Author Sign-ups, even though artists only have to hang around for up to five months before they can claim and then get on with creating their artwork. We inevitably lose a large number of artists who either forget they’ve signed up, or have had RL issues come up in the meantime, or have changed their mind, or for whatever reason.

My question is to all of you, but most importantly the artists who have signed up here in the past, or who have participated in other big bangs. What can I do to change, or limit, this phenomenon of the Disappearing Artists? Would it help to open artist sign-ups later than author sign-ups?

Any suggestions on this matter would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Comments

[solarbaby614.livejournal.com]

I know an issue, at least for me, is that before I sign up I check and see what the authors sign up to write and if I recognise the fandom I'll sign up. But when claims come around the fandoms aren't there.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! That's probably the case with a lot of artists (even though I'd love to see some artists willing to take on a new fandom, I know it's asking a lot), but it sure is frustrating when they disappear without a word.

As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps.

[teaotter.livejournal.com]

I often forget what all I've signed up for, especially if there are months between the sign-up and actually doing the work. So yeah, I think shortening that gap would be good.

Honestly, it's easier for me to sign up (and get my friends to sign up) if the list of fandoms is what's actually being written -- or close to it. Maybe wait for artist sign-ups until after at least one of the author check-ins?

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! It's probably the case with a lot of artists that they forget, but it sure is frustrating when they disappear without a word.

As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps.

[danceswithgary]

Shortening the gap would be good.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps.

[tarlanx]

Speaking as an artists in both of the previous rounds... I think the artist sign up should open AFTER the last check-in and before the rough drafts are due. By then there is a good idea of what stories/fandoms will be represented, and not so long to wait before making a choice from the stories that do get submitted.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! As you may have already seen, I've done exactly that and postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps.

[tarlanx]

Hopefully it will resolve the 'missing artist' problem but still give enough time to request artists by at least making those requests in the relevant fandoms!

I don't mind tackling unfamiliar fandoms - as you have seen in the past! - but I know most people like to stick with what is familiar to them.

[sfbbmod]

Yes, at the very least it will be less frustrating as a mod, and last round we did get quite a few sign-ups during Jan, so it just might work out. *crosses fingers*

[anassa-anemou.livejournal.com]

Coming from both sides:
* I was an author last round and planned 2 stories, and end up only finishing one. A friend I called up to take a look on the list, because she wanted to do art, and didn't know what I was writing, got interested in one of my fandoms(the one I dropped) and she end up not wanting to sing-up, because she didn't know the other fandoms.

*I'm doing a big bang now, which I'm a artist and end up sign-up for 3 stories, because they were really short on artists. I didn't knew the fandom, but a friend was cool enough to brief me in and I was able to read the fics and make 3 artists happy.

So, I agree with people, is probably better that the artists sing-up only happens when the authors have a good idea of the fandoms they will write, between the last check in and the drafts due is probably better. And they can be open until all stories are claimed.
Second, I was willing enough to learn a new fandom with my friend help and some wiki/google research, maybe there are people that would help out if the authors gave a crash curse on the lesser known fandoms/where to find pics/resources and we could all pitch in so everyone would get some sort of art.
*this round I'm thinking in sign-up for artist, so I would be cool to try and help out*

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! I'd love to see some artists willing to take on a new fandom like you did, but I know it's asking a lot.

As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps.

I have set up fandom pimp and fandom resource posts over at the support comm, but not many people have taken advantage and provided info on their fandom. I'll be sure and remind everyone.

[anassa-anemou.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I totally understand why people go to the fandoms they are more familiar with, I'll keep an eye and try to search a bit the fandoms that I don't know and claim things for art.

[spikedluv]

Your willingness to do that is much appreciated! *g*

[sailorhathor.livejournal.com]

As sad-making as it sounds, I don't think there's anything you can do. There are just so many BB's now that artists have been spread too thin and have become really flaky. I sometimes do art for various BB's, but if the summary sounds like something I wouldn't want to read/has pairings I dislike, I don't usually claim those stories. Because there are so many BB's to choose from, I often wait until the story summaries go up and see if there are any that sound good, and THEN I sign up as an artist. It's unfortunate, but that's the way things are with 50 or more BB's in existence now.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! Yes, the huge number of BBs is an issue that we can't really do anything about. As you may have already seen, however, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps. *crosses fingers*

[shadownashira.livejournal.com]

Opening the artist sign-ups later would help to an extent, but to be honest the problem can't be solved so easily. Signing up as an artist is always tricky, because even if you signed up with a fandom/pairing in mind, the plot and summary in the end may not appeal to you when it's time to claim. Another thing you could do would be to constantly remind authors to advertise for artists within their own fandom.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! Yeah, I know it's tricky with multi-fandom BBs, and adding onto that the fact that they're small fandoms... As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps at all. *crosses fingers*

[kat-lair.livejournal.com]

I agree with above. While I've come through with the art on both rounds I've done, the gap is so long that I always end up forgetting about having signed-up! And as much as I'd like, I just don't have time to do art for more than one fic so I tend to choose what appeals to me. So: shortening the time gap between sign-ups and claims would help.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps. *crosses fingers*

[peculiaritea.livejournal.com]

I know that last year I signed up as an artist and and author, and then had to back out as an author, and then when it came time for artists to claim, I had completely forgotten I signed up as an artist as well. So I think definitely shrinking the time between signups and claims is a good idea, especially because while I had no problem doing art for a fandom I'm not familiar with, others may only wish to sign up if they know for sure one of their own fandoms is on the list of fics to be claimed.

[sfbbmod]

Thanks for your comment! As you may have already seen, I've postponed artist sign-ups until January 1st this round to see if that helps. *crosses fingers*